New era in golf set to tee off on the Coast

FORE! The new Maroochy River Golf Club will host its first club round on May 30.CONTRIBUTED

A 65-YEAR history of golf in central Maroochydore will come to an end this weekend when Horton Park Golf Club closes its doors to make way for Sunshine Coast Council's CBD development.

Councillors yesterday saw where the $42million ratepayers paid for the 53ha site has gone, inspecting progress on the new Maroochy River Golf Club which will host its first Club round on May 30.

The new course has been built on former flood-prone cane land between Pacific Paradise and Bli Bli purchased for $10million.

New Horton Park Golf Course in construction at Bli Bli, due to open in May 2015. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast DailyPatrick Woods

The club will host its final competition in central Maroochydore this Saturday, followed by a nine-hole, three-club event and awards presentation on Sunday.

A Construction Day competition, traditional for those who participate in the building of new courses, will be held at Maroochy River on May 28.

"What the club has achieved on the site is outstanding and everything is on track for this to become one of the premier golf clubs, and attractions, on the Sunshine Coast,'' acting mayor Chris Thompson said.

"The links-style course already has a character and personality that will provide seasoned and weekend golfers plenty of challenges."

Sunshine Coast Council has already begun redeveloping Horton Park which will eventually be home to a five-star resort, entertainment, convention and exhibition precinct.

To be called SunCentral Maroochydore, it will also become home to commercial and retail business and new residences.

The relocated Horton Park Golf Course on the David Low Way at Bli Bli is looking green after all the rain. Photo: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast DailyBrett Wortman

The council hopes SunCentral will ultimately attract 165,000sq m of commercial space, 75,000sq m of retail and 2000 residential apartments in a project to be rolled out over the next two decades.

It expects to release the first mixed-use commercial property to the market by the third quarter of this year.

Maroochy River Golf Club president Geoff Davies said while there would be some sadness when the gates closed at Horton Park, members were excited about getting on to the new course.

"Our new club will rank as one of the best on the Coast and will boast 18 new holes with magnificent views from Buderim to Mount Coolum," he said.

Cr Thompson said the current golf club site was on track to become the new city heart of the Coast.

"Maroochydore will become the city heart for the region and will be home to major civic and entertainment facilities, commercial and retail business, new residences and public open space," he said.

Cr Thompson said the new city centre would create up to 10,000 jobs during the life of the project and provide new opportunities for economic growth.